2.5 Million Dollar Grant To Help Improve Healthcare Quality

     Patients in Tennessee could soon see more improved health care for less money.
     BlueCross BlueShield gave a 2.5 million dollar three year grant to the Tennessee Center for Patient Safety and the Tennessee Hospital Association Monday.
     The money will help develop the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.
     Dr. Joe Cofer says it creates a statewide database to help surgeons identify best care practices.
     He says, "We like operations to be straight forward. We hate complications. It's not something we expect or ever accept. So, we hope that this will give us the tools to decrease complications and decrease surgical deaths."
     Eight more Tennessee hospitals will join the program over the summer.